Comb cleaner



' March 13, 1928. I

J. G RASS ER COMB CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 28, 1927 March 13, 1928.

J. GRASSER COMB CLEANER 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1927 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED, STATES JOHN GBASSER, 01? MANITOWOG, 'WISCONSIN.

00MB CLEANER.

Application filed March 28, 1927. Serial No. l?9,012.

This invention relates to comb cleaners.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of comb cleaner which is equipped with a pair of rotary brushes adapted to operate on the comb and to provide means for cleaning between the prongs of the comb in a very rapid and eii'ective manner, and to provide means associated with the device for yieldingly holding the inner end of the comb, so that it may not be lost within the machine.

Further objects are to providemeans for the reception of a series of combs to hold them in stored position, so that they may be readily accessible for the different people for whom they are intended, and yet may be kept distinct and separate, such combs being carried by the machine so that they may be immediately cleaned after use and stored in the machine itself.

Further objects are to provide means for cleaning the brushes or abstracting there from lint and hair and other foreign matter and to provide a pivotally mounted spring closed bottom which may be readily operated from an outer handle or lever to dis charge the contents of the machine whenever necessary.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through the machine;

Figure 2 is a front view of a portion of the machine;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the brushes and the gears therefor;

Figure 4 is a detail of the comb holding means;

Figure 5 is a further detail showing the manner of forming the guides for the comb holding means;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary viewolt one o the brush cleaners.

The machine comprises acasing 1 which is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with a plurality of apertures or slots 2 formed therein by outwardly turned lips 3. These lips are provided with a plurality of transverse wires 4 whose ends are covered by strips 5 soldered in place to provide a finished appearance and a secure construction. The combs, when not in use, are adapted to be stored in the slots 2 with the wires 4 passing between the teeth of the comb.

The upper portion of the casing is pro vided with two cylindrical parts 6 and 7 within which brushes 8 and 9 are positioned. These brushes are of the rotary variety and are tangent to each other, as shown in Fig ure 1. At the adjacent parts of the curved portions or cylindrical portions 5 and 7 of the casing, a slot 10 is formed through which the comb to be cleaned may be inserted. In order to prevent the comb from being inadvertently projected into the machine and out of the grasp of the operator, a. comb stop or holder is provided. .This consists of: a V-shaped' trough-like member 11 into which the end of the comb is adapted to be received and is carried by toggle link mechanism consisting of two pairs of links 12 and13. The links are oinedat their lower fcnds by means of a stationary rod 14 carried by the framework or casing of the machine.

At their outer ends, they are joined by a movable rod 15 which carries thetrougln like member 11. The ends of this movable rod are slotted and are guided by means of an inwardly turned flange or guide 16 (see Figures 1 and 5). The guides 16 are preferably formed of integral inwardlyturned portions of the side walls of the machine.

The. intermediate bars .17 which join, the

separate elements of the twopairs of links are urged towards each other by means of the tension spring 18, as shownin Figure 1, so as to cause the toggle link mechanism to project the trough or comb holder outwardly towards the slot 10, asshown in Figure 1. In order to limit the outward motion ofthe comb holder, the flanges orv guides 16 are provided with ends 19 turned at right angles to their main extent. This provides abutments against which the slotted. ends of the rod 15 are adapted to strike and 7 thus limit the outward motion of the comb are journaled within inturned portions or the casing 1. The brushes are each provided with wooden hubs 22, as shown, for example, in connection with the brush 9 and these hubs are received within end caps 23 promeshing gears so that the two brushes may be snnultaiurously rotated lrom the crank.

In order to prevent the brushes from cloggiug up and becoming useless. brush cleaners are provided which consist of pivotally mounted men'ibers in the form ot' elongated plates, indicated by the reference character 26. These plates: are provided one for each brush and are pivoted to the side walls of the machine, as shown in Figure 1. Each plate carries a series of inwardly turned hooks ..7 which are closely spaced and which engage the bristles of the brushes and thus extract or remove any foreign material from the brushes.

The material removed from the comb drops downwardly upon the slanting pivotally mounted bottom :38 of the machine. This bottom is provided with side flanges 29 and with a rear flange 30 which normally contacts with the corresponding walls ol the casing. It is pivotally carried by a shaft. 31 provided with an externally located operating lever 3:2. The slanting bottom is also connected with a tension spring 33 at one end and is thus held in closed position. The lowermost end of the bottom contacts with a rubber flap or lip 34 carried by the casing and thus secures a tight. joint therewith.

lVhen it is desired to empty the machine, it is merely necessary to operate the lever 32 to tilt the bottom into discharging position, the lower end of the bottom freely passing the flexible lip 34. After the machine has been discharged of the accumulated material. The lever 32 is released and the bottom rocks into its position, as shown in Figure 1, the flexible lip 84: freely yielding to permit the inward rocking ol the corresponding edge of the bottom.

It will be seen that a very practical and serviceable comb cleaning machine. has been provided which may be easily and quickly operated, which will prevent the inward falling of the comb into the machine while it is being cleaned, and which provides means for temporarily storing the combs not in use.

Although the invention has been described in consit'terable detail. such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously cmbodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

1 claim:

1. A comb cleaning machine comprising a casing provided with a comb receiving slot, a pair of revolublc brushes for cleaning an inserted comb, a trough-like member for the reception of an edge of the comb while it is being cleaned. said troughdike memher being located directly behind the brushes and in alignment with the comb receiving slot and spring urgcd toggle link DMCllflIllSlH for urging said trough-like member outwardly towards said slot.

2. A comb cleaning machine comprising a casing provided with a comb receiving slot, a pair of revoluble brushes for cleaning an insert-ed comb, a trough-like member for the reception of an edge of the comb while it is being cleaned, said trough-like member being located directly behind the brushes and in alignment with the comb receiving slot; spring urged toggle link mechanism for urging said trough-like member outwardly towards said slot and guides adjacent the ends of said trough-like member, said guides maintaining the alignmentof said troughlike member with respect to said comb receiving slot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set; my hand at; Manitlowoc, in the county of Manitowoc and State of Wisconsin.

JOHN GRASSER. 

